Can the Indian Bowling Cordon Restrict England’s Batters This Summer? The Answer is Blowing in the Wind.
By Leonard Ratnayake, Reporting from England
India’s batting lineup appears constrained by a lack of experience in playing red-ball cricket in English conditions. Their evident talent has been somewhat dulled by an overexposure to white-ball formats. The BCCI likely knows this, but their financial interests are more aligned with T20 cricket than with the longer format.
Before we analyse the Indian bowling cordon for this summer’s tour of England, it’s pertinent to examine the squad selected for the five-Test series.
Let’s not forget that this Indian bowling lineup will be up against an English side that recently amassed 493 runs on Day One of a Test match against Zimbabwe, and 400 runs in an ODI against the West Indies—without a single centurion in that game.
Of course, India has a stronger bowling unit than Zimbabwe or the Caribbean sides. The concern, however, lies in England’s aggressive “Bazball” approach.
Most of the selected Indian bowlers have primarily competed in white-ball formats, where the ball swings for just four overs before losing its lacquer. Spin is usually introduced after the sixth over, bowlers are restricted to four-over spells, and the primary focus is on dot balls and containment rather than taking wickets. This white-ball mindset differs drastically from what’s required in red-ball cricket, where maintaining the ball’s shine and delivering consistent wicket-taking spells over longer periods is essential.
After enduring 70 league matches under white-ball cricket’s rhythm, adapting to the red-ball format is not as easy as changing lanes during a jog.
The English squad, on the other hand, benefits from playing County cricket—regularly using the red ball—with relatively less exposure to the white-ball format during their domestic season. That’s a significant advantage.
We’ve already pointed out that India’s batting might be tentative during the early part of the English summer. The same concern applies to their bowlers, who are caught between two mindsets—white-ball muscle memory and the technical demands of red-ball cricket.
India’s squad features seven specialist batters, one of whom doubles as a wicketkeeper, seven bowlers, and three all-rounders.
A proper all-rounder, by definition, is someone who can merit selection either as a batter or a bowler even during a form slump in one of those departments. As the late Tony Greig put it, true all-rounders of his era included Sir Garfield Sobers, Ian Botham, Jacques Kallis, and, to a great extent, Freddie Flintoff.
The Bumrah Factor
India’s bowling attack will be spearheaded by Jasprit Bumrah, who has taken 37 wickets in 8 Tests in England. He is, arguably, a seamer from another planet. His pace partner, Mohammad Siraj, has 10 wickets in 7 Tests in England. Shardul Thakur has picked up only 8 scalps in 8 matches. Meanwhile, Prasidh Krishna, Avesh Khan, and Arshdeep Singh have limited to no Test experience in English conditions.
The spin department is led by Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, and Kuldeep Yadav.
Jasprit Bumrah remains India’s primary hope, and rightly so. His unique biomechanics, late movement, and deceptive pace make him one of the rare bowlers who can thrive across formats and geographies. His 37 wickets in just 8 Tests in England suggest not just familiarity but mastery.
Yet, the concern is what comes after Bumrah. Mohammed Siraj is spirited but has lacked consistency in England. Shardul Thakur has shown glimpses of brilliance (remember Lord’s 2021), but he isn’t a strike bowler in the traditional sense. The rest of the pace unit, Prasidh Krishna, Avesh Khan, Arshdeep Singh—lacks experience at this level, especially in England’s unique Test conditions.
Interestingly, Jadeja, Sundar, and seamer Nitish Reddy are in the squad as designated all-rounders. The question is, do they fit Tony Greig’s definition of a proper all-rounder? In subcontinental conditions, perhaps. In England? That’s up to you to decide.
The inclusion of three spinners suggests India is hedging its bets. Jadeja’s all-round credentials and control make him a logical pick, but England’s conditions rarely offer consistent turn unless it’s late in the match or unusually dry. Kuldeep offers variety with wrist spin, and Sundar is tidy, but neither is likely to threaten England’s batters unless conditions go their way.
KL Rahul reportedly asked the BCCI to include him in the India A series against England, currently underway. Why? Because he’s a genuine Test batter who was parachuted into T20 cricket—and he knows just how much the red ball can expose your skill level if you’re not match-hardened.
It’s comforting for Indian fans to read overly positive reports and hear commentary that paints a rosy picture of India’s expected performance this summer in England. But sometimes, it’s better to face the hard truth than to indulge in sugar-coated optimism.
So, can the Indian bowling attack restrict England’s batters this summer?
The answer, quite literally, is swinging in the wind. The silver lining in the dark skies lies in the hands of Jasprit Bumrah.
In a five-Test series, consistency trumps flash. And in that battle of attrition, India’s bowlers must overcome not just England, but themselves.
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